favorite image from February

An Update

About 7 months ago I got my first dslr and have found a new passion in life - photography. I loved taking pictures years ago, but found the film to be too expensive to take very many pictures. I still want to use this blog to share my journey towards frugal, healthy eating, but also to share my journey towards taking better pictures and documenting the wonderful family and life that God has given me.

Presto Popcorn Popper

As I just mentioned in my last post, I am always desiring things to make my life at home easier. One of those things I thought I just had to have was a popcorn popper. Popcorn is such a healthy and frugal snack - especially when you are feeding two growing boys! I thought about it for a few months, mentioned it to my mom, but then put it out of my mind. I couldn't justify buying one when I could make popcorn on the stovetop.

A few days ago when I opened a Christmas package from my parents, there was a Presto Popcorn Popper! The boys and I couldn't wait to try it so we plugged it in right away. I am amazed at how quickly and easily we can have healthy air popped popcorn! Clean up is a snap. We melt a little butter in a pan while the popcorn is popping and stir that in when the popcorn is done and sprinkle a little sea salt on top.

Although I didn't have to have this popper, it sure has made a favorite snack a lot easier to prepare!

Contentment in the New Year

I've heard a lot of people lately giving themes for each New Year. A word that keeps coming to my mind is contentment. This is something that I continually struggle with. As I spend most of my time with my kids at home, I am always thinking of one more thing that would help me have an easier life - whether it be in the kitchen, or for our homeschool, or - whatever! And when I get this item in my mind that I just need to have, I waste minutes thinking about it and researching why I really must have it!
When I get back to basics and am grateful for the abundance that I do have all around me in things, people and spiritual blessings, I am so much more at peace!
This year I desire to have more contentment in what the Lord has already given me.

"School Zone Party"

Our family moved to the area we are now in almost two years ago. We moved here as missionaries to start a Baptist church. The beginnings have been slow. We were able to start a youth group a year and four months ago. We rented a building for church services and started Sunday services about five months ago. God has really been blessing, and it's so exciting to see.
Last Saturday we had our first annual "School Zone Party" It was an event in which we gave out free school supplies, had lunch and snacks available, games, and sign ups for give-a-ways. A lot of planning and resources went into this three hour event, and the response has been wonderful.
The community is seeing that this new church in town really cares about them and wants to get to know them. We've been able to meet a lot of new people and have good conversations with them about important things. We are trying to meet these people where they are and show them the need for the Lord in their lives. We are in a very small community, and Sunday we were excited to see 30 people in our services. This may not seem like many to most people, but each soul is so important.
This Tuesday I am so grateful for the opportunity God gives each and every one of us!

Doterra Lemon Oil

I've recently found the doterra line of essential oils and plan on trying them out little by little when I get the chance. So far I've gotten the lemon and slim and sassy. I hope to give a more detailed opinion/review when I've had them for longer, but I want to mention something about the lemon today.
I was taking out the trash this morning, and the empty trash can smelled terrible - even after I wiped it out. I put two drops of lemon oil in a cup of water and poured that into the can. I swished it around, poured it out, and wiped it dry.
It smelled lemony fresh! I couldn't believe how powerful just two drops were.

Grateful For Thirteen Years

As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband and I celebrated an anniversary yesterday. It's been 13 years. I know everybody says this, but the time just seems to fly. And on each anniversary, I can't help but stop and feel grateful. I could go on and on about how grateful I am for him, but a few things stand out.
He is a romantic and adores me (even when I'm not adorable!)
He puts God first in our lives, our marriage, our family. He is very good at keeping an eternal perspective in our lives here on earth.
He is continually investing in me and our kids - putting forth time to create special moments in our busy schedule to show us how loved we are.
I am definitely looking forward to this next year!

The Morning After A Day Of Junk Food

Most of us have them. A day where when we eat junk all day long, because it's a special day and someone has brought a lot of junk in and we just eat it because it's there!
Yesterday was our anniversary, and my husband and I bought each other treats to celebrate. Probably too many treats. And we ate them all day long until they were gone. And then we got ice cream after our dinner out. I felt yucky!

What to do the morning after?

I've found that it doesn't take much to get back on track.
Drink water - I like to fill my glass water bottle with 20 oz. water and drink it before breakfast.
Break a sweat - I have a 30 min. 2 mile walk video by Leslie Sansone and I found it's great for getting a little movement in and breaking a sweat.
Have a good breakfast - Most mornings we have oatmeal as a base for our breakfast. We will often add smoothies, eggs, or fruit to round it out.

After doing these three things I always feel a lot better!

Anniversary On A Budget

Today is my husband's and my anniversary. In the past we've done some pretty expensive things for our anniversary. Once we went to a cabin in a beautiful wooded area for two nights. Another year we went to a pricey hotel and did lots of shopping and eating out. Other years we didn't have much money and didn't do much at all and ended up having a pretty blah anniversary day. This year, we don't have much extra money to spend either, but so far the day seems pretty special, and we are both looking forward to the rest of it.
What's the difference?

We talked about it ahead of time.

This year we started planning what we would do a couple of weeks ago. Even though it wasn't much, we've been looking forward to it for days and both have the same expectations!
We both ended up buying the other special snacks which we will enjoy while watching a redbox movie this evening. For dinner we are going to go out for an early supper with our almost one yr. old daughter (during her "happy" time) while our two older boys stay home as they are old enough to stay home alone.
These are simple things, but so special, because we talked about it ahead of time and both had the same expectations for the day.
Pretty Basic!

Pre-dinner Popcorn

Most days, while I am preparing supper, my two older children will come in begging for food. I do try to find something healthy for them if supper is more than 30 min. away. If I really have it together, I'll have a veggie and dip platter ready. If not, sometimes I'll pop some healthy popcorn. It really is healthy and it couldn't be more simple.

I put about 1/4 c. coconut oil in a large pot and heat it on high with about 3 kernels in the pot. When those pop I know the oil is hot enough, and I pour in about 3/4 c. of popcorn. I shake the pot just slightly while the kernels are popping until the popping slows to just a few per second.

Sprinkle with some sea salt and you're done! The whole process takes just a couple of minutes.

I did this last night, and it satisfied my boys for the hour they were waiting for supper.

Satisfied children make a peaceful mama!

Back To Basics

The basic things of life can also be the hardest I've found. It can be so hard to be balanced and basic in all areas of life. I can spend so much time searching for ways to make each area of my life simpler, and in the process, not have time for all the simple things I should be doing!

This blog is a motivation for myself, and hopefully for others too, to enjoy life and continue growing and learning new ways of doing things, as long as we don't forget the basics that make us all feel balanced.

As a christian, I desire to keep Christ first in all my efforts and do what He would want.

As a stay at home mom, I have interests in health, fitness, and homeschooling. These are things I will be focusing on in this blog - especially food and menu planning.